UNDERSTANDING WHAT MATTERS TO GOD Pt.3
Psalms 8: 4-5 What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. NLT
THE WELFARE OF MANKIND
Years back as an undergraduate, in the village where my school was situated, I discovered a school where parents couldn't pay N120 for their children examination fees. That's less than a dollar.
I wouldn't know if it is because of negligence or lack of value for education but I knew poverty was a contributing factor. Some of their parents may have the money but they thought of feeding first before any other thing.
Quickly, I mobilize the brethren to meet this need. I thank God we did because the head master of the school shared their struggles with us in that regard and how our support was a relief.
After redemption, the welfare of mankind matters to God. Yes, it is one of the topmost agenda of God for mankind. When God created mankind, He put him in a garden where all he'll ever need were provided for.
Throughout scriptures, we saw that it is not God's will for any man to lack or live in abject poverty and sickness. Under the old covenant, God made provision for the poor by instructing the Jews to allow the poor eat whatever grows on their farmland in the Sabbath year.
“Plant and harvest your crops for six years, but let the land be renewed and lie uncultivated during the seventh year. Then let the poor among you harvest whatever grows on its own. Leave the rest for wild animals to eat. The same applies to your vineyards and olive groves(Ex 23:10-11 NLT)
Under that same covenant, God instituted a tithing system for the poor and less privileged. There were three types of tithe in the old covenant: Levitical/sacred tithe( Numbers 18:21,24 ), Feast tithe ( Deuteronomy 14:22-27 ) and Tithe for the poor( Deuteronomy 14:28-29).
The latter is given to the poor, orphans, widows and Levites once in three years. It is triennial.
“At the end of every third year, bring the entire tithe of that year’s harvest and store it in the nearest town. Give it to the Levites, who will receive no allotment of land among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all your work(Deuteronomy 14:28-29 NLT).
This shows the extent of God's concern for the welfare of mankind. The bible says, "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed( Proverbs 19:17). God takes it personal when you help the poor.
The early church was concerned about people's welfare. They weren't just speaking in tongues while looking away from the needs of other brethren. Welfare of the brethren took a larger share in their contributions.
Speaking about them, the bible says, "And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need(Acts of the Apostles 2:44-45 NLT).
If this is the pattern in the early church, should ours be different? God will never look away from genuine needs of mankind. He is working to meet our needs in one way or the other. That's the extent of the father's love.
The writer of Hebrews says, "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God"(Hebrews 13:16).
All that is needed to supply the needs of the poor is on earth already in the hands of some persons. Included in God's provision for your life is something to give the poor. You only need to be sensitive to know what is yours for consumption and what belongs to others in what the Lord has given to you.
Don't look away from genuine needs you can meet. It is unlike Christ to tell needy people to go and pray when you can meet their needs on the spot: "If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you”(Proverbs 3:28).
The prayer of the poor is sincere and heartfelt. Raise prayer warriors from among them by meeting their needs. It should be noted that we are not talking about helping lazy persons. A lazy man should find a job.
However, there are people whose work is not enough to feed them. The people in that category should be our focus. One day, while I was about alighting from the vehicle, a young boy who hawked fruit came to me begging that I should buy his fruit because that was what he was living on.
I didn't intend buying the fruit but out of compassion, I bought some because the money he realized that day will provide for his meal. Moreso, he was too young to hawk.
God is not happy seeing men go to bed hungry at night. Do something about it. Your are His agent on earth to meeting such needs.
Don't be selfish. Prayerfully locate people that have genuine needs around you and lend a helping hand.